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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 

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Shelf 'A.L... „ „ 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 












HISTORY OF THE SONG. 



Samuel Francis Smith, D.D., who was born in Boston, Oct. 21, 
1808, is the author of " America." He states that the song was written 
by him when a student at Andover, in the winter of 1831-2. He was 
selecting pleasing music from German song books, when " God Save 
the King " met his eye, and he " proceeded to give it the ring of 
American republican patriotism." 

There has been much discussion in England about the origin of 
this air: for it was in 181 5 the national air of England, Prussia, and 
Russia, but has been superceded in the latter country. Many of the 
best authorities ascribe the original strain to Henry Carey, who died 
in 1743; he was the author of "Sally in our Alley," one of the most 
popular English songs ever written. 



PUBLISHED AND COPYRIGHTED, 1887, 3Y F. H. GILSON, BOSTON. 



_. CO 

AUG 10 1887 ' 

OP WASH - 



MY COUNTRY, 'TIS OF THEE. 



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Words by Samuel Francis Smith. 



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i. My coun - try! 
2. My na - tive 



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'tis 



of thee, Sweet land of 
try! thee, Land of the 



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lib - er - ty, Of thee I sing; 
no - ble free, Thy name I love ; 



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Land where my 
I love thy 



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fa - thers died; Land of the pil - grim's pride: 

rocks and rills, Thy woods and tern - pled hills, 



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MY COUNTRY, 'TIS OF THEE. 



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From ev - 'ry 
My heart with 



moun - tain side, 
rap - ture thrill. 



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Let free - dom ring. 
Like that a - bove. 



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3 Let music swell the breeze 
And ring among the trees 

Sweet freedom's song: 
Let mortal tongues awake, 
Let all that breathe partake, 
Let rocks their silence break, 

The sound prolong. 



4 Our fathers' God ! to thee, 
Author of liberty ! 

To thee we sing ; 
Long may our land be bright 
With freedom's holy light, 
Protect us by thy might, 

Great God, our King ! 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

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016 225 788 2 W 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

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016 225 788 2 # 



